Mixing valve assembly for beverage dispensers

ABSTRACT

A mixing valve assembly for beverage dispensers including a pair of identical molded valve housings aligned parallel and one above the other and with one inverted with respect to the other. Means are provided on the housings to attach the two parts together, and a pair of identical valve actuator supports are connected to the housings, one above the upper housing and one below the lower housing. Identical mounting lugs are connected to the rear portions of the joined housings to support the assembly on a bracket.

United States Patent l l I l l l Inventor Robert L. Norton Norlolk, Mass.

Appl. No. 785722 Filed Dec. 20, 1968 Patented July 6, I971 Assigncc Jet Spray Cooler, lnc.,

Waltham, Mass.

MIXING VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSERS 13 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 222/145 Int. Cl B67d 5/60 Field of Search 222/135,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,921,605 l/l960 Boothetal......,........ 222/145X 3,396,87l 8/1968 McCann 222/145 X Primary ExaminerStanley H. Tollberg Attorney-Wolf, Greenfield and Sacks ABSTRACT: A mixing valve assembly for beverage dispensers including a pair of identical molded valve housings aligned parallel and one above the other and with one inverted with respect to the other. Means are provided on the housings to attach the two parts together, and a pair of identical valve actuator supports are connected to the housings, one above the upper housing and one below the lower housing. identical mounting lugs are connected to the rear portions of the joined housings to support the assembly on a bracket.

PATENTEDJUL SIS?! 3,591,055

SHEEI 1 OF 5 Ii llllllll I54 I52 if I FIG. I

I I INVENTOR ROBERT L. NORTON 8W E (PM ATTORN EYS PATENTED JUL 6197i SHEET 2 OF 5 INVENTOR.

L. NOR

ROBERT ATTORNEYS PATENTEU JUL 6 I97! SHEET 3 [IF 5 ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUL 6 I97! SHEET 0F 5 F I 5 INVENTOR. ROBERT L. Norzmu BY i 461F244 ATTORNEYS PATENTEUJUL em 3591; 055

SHEET 5 OF 5 ATTORNEYS F l G. 8 vgmoR MIXING VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSERS This invention relates to mixing valve assemblies for multibeverage dispensers. The invention is an improvement upon the valve assembly shown in copending application Ser. No. 753,825 filed July. 17, 1968 now Pat. No. 3,503,541 which is a continuation in part of earlier application Ser. No. 682,344 filed Nov.13,1967.

A number of considerations must be taken into account in the design of valves used for dispensing beverages. These considerations apply when designing valves for all types of beverage dispensers whether they be the self contained type such as is shown in earlier US. Pat. Nos. 3,341,077 and 3,206,069, or in beverage dispensing systems having a bank of dispensing valves that operate from a series of independent tanks stored below a counter. These considerations include ease of cleaning, cost, and performance. Ease of cleaning obviously depends in part on the ability to assemble and disassemble the structure. It also is dependent upon the actual configuration of the parts, the absence of dead end passages, and

the ability to flush cleaning solution through the various passages. Cost is also in part dependent upon the ease in which the parts may be assembled and disassembled as well as their particular configuration and the material from which the parts are made. It will be appreciated that a mass produced item which may be molded of plastic material is significantly less expensive than a product which requires special machining and which is made from a more costly material such as stainless steel. The requirement that the device performed dependably and satisfactorily is of course obvious. When the valve not only controls the dispensing action but the mixing of liquids as well, then the creation of such a device is more difficult. And to achieve dependable and accurate performance from an inexpensive unit which may be cleaned readily and be assembled and disassembled conveniently is a consideration of first magnitude.

This invention will be better understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a side view of a mixing valve constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a portion of a valve assembly including two mixing valves as shown in FIG. 1 plus a part of a mixing valve to dispense a single liquid, and constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the section line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of one valve assembly of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional detail view taken along section line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the support; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of the cap and funnel of this mixing valve.

In FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 a single mixing valve is shown made up of several paired parts. Referring first to FIG. 5, the assembly is there shown to include a pair of housings l0 and 12, and a pair of mounting lugs 14 and 16. Above the housing 10 and below the housing 12 are a pair of identical supports 18 and 20 which are shown in FIGS. I and 4. A plan view of the support 18 is clearly shown in FIG. 3.

The housings I0 and 12 are identical to one another in original form. In FIG. 5, the lower housing 12 is shown to be disposed parallel to the housing 10, but inverted. The housing 10 will be described in detail and it will be recognized that the description applies equally to the housing 12 except where specific exceptions are noted. (Like parts in housing 12 are identified by prime numbers.) The housing 10 includes a cylindrical body 22 having a forward section 24 of somewhat smaller diameter and an enlarged rear section 26 with a coupling rim 28. The enlarged section 26 of the housing defines a valve chamber 30 (see FIG. 4). The body 22 is formed with an axially extending passage 32 which is of smaller diameter in the forward section 24 to serve as a bushing for the valve stem 36 as illustrated in FIG. 4. In that figure it will be noted that valve stem 36 carrying valve closure 38 is disposed in the passage 32. The larger portion of the passage 32 within the body 22 provides a clearance around the stem to allow flow from the chamber 30 about the stem toward the forward section 24 of the body.

A T-section 40 is formed on the body 22, having a downwardly extending leg 42 and an upwardly extending arm 44. The leg 42 is provided with a central passage 46 that extends perpendicularly from the end of the wider portion of the passage 32 so that flow may occur through the housing from chamber 30 through passage 32 and out passage 46. The arm 44 serves as a support post for valve actuator support 18. A second post 48 is also formed on the body 22 of housing 10, of somewhat smaller diameter than the arm 44 and extending parallel to it. The post 48 assists the arm 44 in providing a mounting for the support 18.

The larger rear portion 26 of the housing 10 is provided with a base 50 in the form of a pair of parallel flanges 52 and 54 each of which carries a pin 56 and a recess 58 on the end of each flange. Referring now to FIG. 5, it will be recognized that the two housings I0 and 12 may be joined to one another in proper position by inserting the pins 56 of the bases into the opposite recesses 58 when the two housings l0 and 12 are aligned with one another as shown. When the pins are inserted in the recesses, the T-sections 40 align with one another so that the section 40 of the lower housing forms a continuation of the leg 42 on the section of the upper housing. An additional bore 60 is formed in the housing 12 in its arm 44' so that the passage in the T-section 40' of the housing 12 forms a complete continuation of the passage 46 in housing 10.

In FIG. 4 it will be noted that a passage 62 is provided in the rear post 48' of the housing 12, which serves as an outlet passage in the lower housing to discharge fluid from the valve chamber 30. No comparable bore is provided in the post 48 of the upper housing 10 for the bore 46 at the T-section 40 provides a discharge passage for that housing. It will also be noted in FIG. 4 that the passage 32 which extends axially through the housing 12 from the chamber 30' is of slightly different configuration than the passage 32 in housing 10. The passage 32 has a section of larger diameter which is substantially shorter than the comparable section in housing 10, and the remainder of the passage identified at 33 and which serves as a bushing for the valve stem 36' is longer than the corresponding section 33 in the upper housing. The valve stem 36' extends across the passage 60' and consequently liquid which discharges from the housing 10 through the passage 60 washes the stem 36' as that stem reciprocates in its bushing. As is explained in greater detail below, ordinarily the housing 10 handles the flow of water while the housing 12 handles the flow of flavor syrup. Consequently the syrup which may migrate on the stem 36 is constantly washed by the water which discharges from the upper housing. The mounting lugs 14 and 16 shown in FIG. 5 to be disposed on opposite sides of the rear portions 26 and 26' of the two housings 10 and 12 are mounted so that they extend in opposite directions, but the two are identical. The mounting lug 14 will be described in detail, and the similar parts of the mounting lug 16 are identified by the same numbers primed.

The mounting lug 14 includes a main body having a vertically disposed plate 72 on its inner side, which in turn carries an outwardly extending block 79 that fits into the recess 74 defined between the mated flanges 52 of the couplings 50 of the two housings. (See FIG. 6) When the housings l0 and 12 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are joined together so that the pins 56 and 56' on the flanges 52 and 52' lie in the recesses 58 and 58' and the legs 42 and 42' of the housings abut one another, recesses 74 are formed into which the blocks 79 on the plates 72 extend.

Extending outwardly from the body 70 of the lug 14 is a post 78 which is designed to pivotally support one side 81 of the push handle 80 as shown in FIG. 2. The side 83' of the push handle is supported on post 78' on lug l6. Disposed below the post 78 is a slot 82 through which screw 83 extends to secure the mounting lug 14 to the main frame of the system. Below the slot 82 is yet another slot 84 which acts as a guide for connecting rod 86 which is described in greater detail below.

The third pair of elements which make up the mixing valve are the supports 18 and 20. Support 18 is shown in detail in FIG. 7. The supports 18 and 20 lie above the upper housing and below the lower housing 12 respectively. The support 18 is described in detail, and support is identified with primed numbers. Support 18 is generally Y-shaped having a pair of forwardly diverging arms 100 and 102 oriented in the same horizontal plane and connected to the stem 104. The stem 104 includes a pair of shallow cylindrical recesses 106 and 108 on the bottom that respectively received the posts 44 and 48 defined by the upwardly extending arms provided on the body 22 of housing 10, as well as oppositely facing recesses 107 and 109 that receive the posts when the support is mounted below the lower housing 12. The arm 100 carries at its end an upwardly extending post 110 and a downwardly extending post 112 which are designed to support push plates 120 and 214 that act directly upon the valve stems 36 and 36' to open and close the passages in the valves. The end of the other arm 102 carries a pair of upwardly extending fingers 114 that serve as .guides for the connecting rod 86 which joins the push plate with the actuating handle 80. Yet another arm 116 forms part of the support 18 and extends horizontally from the rear portion of the stem 104 aligned with the recess 108. The arm 116 is provided with an internally threaded passage 118 which is designed to receive a needle valve that may provide a fine control adjustment for flow through the passage 62 of the lower housing 12. It will be noted in FIG. 4 that the opening 118 intersects the continuation of passage 62' in the support 20 so that the needle valve may adjust the flow through that passage.

Many of the features of the support are not utilized in the upper support 18 but only in the lower support 20 secured to the lower housing 12. For example, the arm 102 in the upper support 18 is not utilized for the fingers 114 are not called upon to guide the connecting rod. Rather, the connecting rod extends from the push plate 120 to the push handle 80 only on the arm 102' of the lower support 20. It will be noted in FIG. 2 that the arm 102 of the upper support lies above the pivot point of the push handle 80 and that a connecting rod could not conveniently be coupled to the two members at the eleva tion of the upper support. Obviously one connecting rod is sufficient, and that is in a plane below the upper support 16. The arm 116 also is not employed in connection with the upper support 18, but rather is only utilized in connection with the lower support 20. As is evident in FIG. 4, no function could be performed by the needle valve within the arm 116 in connection with the upper housing 10 for the flow discharges from the upper housing through the leg 46 which is forward of the arm 116. However, discharge through the lower housing is in tersected by the passage 118 in the arm 116, and it can be utilized in the assembly. Still one other difference exists in connection with the upper and lower supports. Unlike the other pairs of parts, the two supports 18 and 20 are oriented parallel to one another and face in the same direction.

The push plate 120 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to include a vertically oriented faceplate 122 and a pair of horizontal flanges 124 and 126. Ears 128 are formed on each of the flanges and are provided with holes 130 to receive the posts 110 of the upper support 18 and the post 112' of the lower support 20. Thus, the push plate 120 is supported for pivotal movement about a vertical axis defined by the post 110 and 112'. The faceplate 122 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to be oriented so that its inner surface actually bears against the stems 36 and 36 of the valve mechanisms in the upper and lower housings 10 and 12. When the push plate 120 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 3, the valve stems 36 and 36 are pushed inwardly in their respective housings to unseat their valves 38 and 38. The push plates are connected by means of the connecting rod 86 to the upper portion of the push handle 80. Washers 132 connected to the ends of the connecting rod 86 join the rod to the push plate and push handle so that movement of the handle to the right as shown in FIG. 1 causes the handle to pivot about the posts 78 and which in turn causes the push plate to pivot about the vertical axis defined by the post 110 and 112 so as to move the stems 36 and 36' rearwardly to unseat their respective valves.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connecting rod 86 is supported at its forward end between the fingers l 14' of the support 20 so that it cannot shift sideways. The rear end of the connecting rod 86 is supported in the slot 84 in mounting lug 14 so that it may not shift upwardly or downwardly in the system. Therefore, the connecting rod is stabilized by the supports, and coupled with its connections to the push handle and push plate it is held firmly in place so that its motion is confined basically to axial movement.

A nozzle cap is secured to the lower surface of the support 20 as is clearly viewed in FIG. 4 and provides discharge ports that form continuations of the passages 142 and 144' provided in the support. The passage 142', is aligned with the port 146 in the cap 140 while the passage 144' is aligned with the passage 148. It will also be noted in FIG. 4 that the passages 146 and 148 are formed in cylindrical columns formed as an integral part of the cap which in turn fit into the recesses 106' and 108 in the lower surface of the stern 104' of support 20. It may also be noted that the passage 146 is of smaller diameter than the passage 142 in the support, which causes the liquid discharged through the upper housing 10 to leave the valve at a substantially higher velocity than flow through the housing.

A funnel 152 is detachably secured to the periphery 154 of the cap 140 and forms a mixing chamber 156 within which the liquid discharging through the ports 146 and 148 may thoroughly intermingle. Because the port 148 is oriented to discharge its liquid against the conical wall 158, the conical wall 158 will act as a baffle to direct that liquid into the on coming flow jet discharging from the passage 146. A plurality of cars 160 are secured to the outer surface of the funnel, which ears carry cams 162 that engage the top of the cap periphery. By twisting the funnel 152, it may be attached or detached from the cap. (See FIG. 8)

The mixing valve of this invention is typically used in a multibeverage dispenser as shown in copending application Ser. No. 753,825, supra. In such an application, a manifold may be secured to a support 172 which forms part of the dispenser frame, and refrigerated water may be constantly supplied to the manifold through appropriate ducts and fittings (not shown). The water may or may not be carbonated. In FIGS. 1 and 4, the manifold is shown to have an opening 174 and a seal 176 is seated against the manifold and extends into the coupling rim 28 of the housing 10. Thus, water in the manifold may be constantly supplied to the chamber 30 of the housing. A second fitting 180 may be mounted on the plate 172 to supply flavor syrup to the housing 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the coupling 180 is in the form of a cylinder 182 having a seal 184 at its outer end which in turn is seated in the rim 28' of the housing 12 to form a seal to allow syrup to flow from the cylinder 182 into the valve chamber 30. A threaded nipple formed on the rear of the cylinder 182 may extend through an opening in the plate 172, which in turn may be held in place by a nut 186. Thus it is seen that in a typical installation, water may be directed to the housing 10 and flavor syrup to the housing 12 and each is in turn controlled by the valves 38 and 38 respectively.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 a bank of such valves is suggested. In such an installation, the other mixing valve or valves of the assembly are similarly connected to the manifold 170 so that each receives water from the same source. In addition, the lower housing 12 of each mixing valve is connected to its own flavor syrup source through its own coupling, so that the various mixing valves may discharge different beverages. The parts are otherwise identical and it is unnecessary to describe them again. In FIG. 2 and 3 a third valve 200 is also shown to form part of the assembly, but unlike the other valves shown, it is designed to handle but a single liquid. Typically, the valve 200 is used to dispense plain water from the manifold rather than water mixed with a flavor syrup. In such an installation, but one housing is utilized rather than two as in the mixing valves. In FIG. 3, a bracket 202 is shown secured to the plate 172 by means of screws 204 that also extend through the slots 82 of the adjacent mounting lugs of the valve assemblies. (The screws 204 may be the same but longer than the screws 83). The bracket 202 is provided with a platform 206 that has pins and recesses (not shown) which mate with the pins 56 and recesses 58 on the support of the housing. The housing 210 is identical to the housing 10, and consequently is provided with legs 52 and 54, as well as pins 56 and recesses 58. As viewed in FIG. 3, the housing 210 carries a valve stem 212 which is also identical to the valve stem 36 used in the mixing valves. However, the valve 200 as stated above, is not used to mix two liquids, and therefore but a single housing is used with a single valve stem.

In FIG. 3, a push plate 214 is shown pivoted about the same vertical axis as the push plate 1200f the mixing valve to the right of the valve 200. The push plate 214 is shaped similar to the push plate 120, having a pair of horizontal flanges 216 (one shown) and a vertical plate 218. The flanges 216 are provided with ears having openings 220 which in turn receive the post 112 of the upper support 18 and the post 110' of the lower support 20. In order to actuate the valve 200 to open it, the user merely pushes against the plate 214, and it pivots about the posts to move the valve stem 212 and unseat the valve controlling flow through the housing 210. Typically the housing 210 may be used to discharge plain water from the system. A pair of such single valves may be utilized in the system, one discharging water under normal pressure from the manifold while the other discharges a jet from the manifold. It will be appreciated that in such systems the water is normally refrigerated, and there is reason to provide plain cold water either at normal discharge velocities or at higher velocities for mixing sodas etc. I

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that a very few easily molded parts are assembled together to form the mixing valve of this invention. And subcombinations of the parts may be used to perform other valve functions in the system. Thus, the housings and 12 which are identical may be used either alone or in combination to provide a mixing valve or a single liquid valve in a beverage dispensing system. While the housings 10 and 12 are molded in identical form, they may be individually internally bored depending upon the function to be performed by each. Thus, as is evident in FIG. 4, the bore 32 in the housing 10 has a longer large diameter section than the corresponding bore in the housing 12. In turn, the bushing portion 33 of the bore which supports the valve stem in the housing 10 is shorter than the bushing section of the lower housing. Similarly, a passage 62' is shown bored through the arm 48 of the lower housing while no corresponding bore is provided in the arm of the upper housing. In the same fashion, the supports 18 and 20 are molded identical to one another but may be utilized in different forms. The upper support 18 may have the arm 116 as well as the arm 102 clipped from it because in normal use as shown they perform no function. However, those parts in the lower support do perform functions and remain on the molded form.

In assembling the various components of the valve assembly together, it may be desirable to permanently attach the two housings, mounting lugs, and supports along with the cap 140 together. Even when permanently connected, the assembled unit may be cleaned readily. The funnel 152 may be removed from the system, and the remainder of the assembly may be removed from the support 172 merely by unfastening the two screws 204 which hold the assembly in place. Even if the screws 204 perform the dual function of also supporting the bracket 202, the screws may be removed and that assembly can be cleaned also. Once removed, cleaning solution may be flushed through each of the valve housings without difficulty. It is apparent that such an assembly is very easy to manufacture for the majority of parts may be molded and used without alteration. A few parts may require special drilling, but this may be done quickly and conveniently because of the nature of the material and the simplicity of the configuration of each part.

Having described this invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that each of the objects set forth in the introduction are achieved by a valve device made in accordance with this invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a mixing valve assembly,

a pair of valve housings substantially identical in outside configuration aligned parallel with one another and with one of the two housings inverted with respect to the other housing, means for joining the housings together to form a continuous fluid flow passage from one housing to the other means on the housings for precisely positioning the two parts with respect to each other,

mounting lugs connected to the rear portions of the joined housings,

and a pair of valve actuator supports connected to the pair of valve housings, said supports being secured one to one housing and one to the other.

2. In an assembly as defined in claim 1,

said housings each having an internal passage that extends throughout their length, the rear of each passage being a fluid inlet and the front of each passage being a bushing for a push valve stem,

a valve seat provided intermediate the ends of the passages and facing rearwardly,

and an internal port in each housing extending perpendicular to the passage, said ports being joined to one another when the housings are assembled.

3. In an assembly as defined in claim 2,

a second internal port provided in one housing and extending downwardly from the passage,

said second port being disposed in front of the valve seat in the second housing.

4. In an assembly as described in claim 1, further characterized by said housings being mounted one above the other, and with the supports being substantially identical with one support being mounted above the upper housing and the other support being mounted below the lower housing.

5. In an assembly as described in claim 4, further characterized by a push handle pivotally supported on the mounting lugs,

a push plate mounted on the supports,

a connecting rod joining the handle and plate,

and valves disposed in the housings and operatively connected to the plates.

6. In an assembly as described in claim 4, further characterized by said housings each having an internal passage that extends throughout their length, the rear of each passage being a fluid inlet and the front of each passage being a bushing for a push valve stem,

a valve seat provided intermediate the ends of the passages and facing rearwardly,

and an internal port in each housing extending perpendicular to the passage, said ports being joined to one another when the housings are assembled.

7. A valve housing adapted to be used alone for a single liquid or in'combination with a similar housing to mix two liquids comprising,

a molded plastic body having an elongated passage formed therein,

a leg extending perpendicular to the passage on the housing and having a port therethrough which joins the passage,

an arm aligned with the leg on the other side of the passage and adapted to be provided with a second port which joins the passage and forms a continuation of the first port, and a connecting device provided on the housing as an integral part thereof and adapted to lock with an identical device on a like housing when one housing is inverted with respect to the other. 8. A valve housing as described in claim 7 further characterized by a valve seat formed intermediate the ends of the passage, and a portion of reduced diameter provided in the passage to serve as a bushing for a valve stem. 9. ln an assembly as described in claim 6 further characterized by said supports each being generally Y-shaped lying in a horizontal plane with the two arms of the Y extending forwardly, one of said arms having a post to pivotally carry the push plate and the other of the arms having a guide for the connecting rod. 10. ln an assembly as described in claim 6 further characterized by each of said housings having a leg extending perpendicular to its passage and having a port therethrough which joins its passage, an arm aligned with the leg on the other side of each of the housings, said legs in the two housings being aligned with one another LII when they are assembled, a port provided in the arm of the lower housing joining the port in the lower housing leg, and an additional arm on each housing parallel to the first recited arms, and with a port in the additional arm in the lower housing joining the passage in that housing, whereby liquid introduced into the upper housing may discharge through the legs of the two housings and the port in the first recited arm in the lower housing, and whereby liquid introduced into the passage of the lower housing may discharge through the port in the additional arm of that housing lll. ln an assembly as described in claim 10 further characterized by said supports being mounted on the housings by means of the arms on each housing. 12. In an assembly as described in claim 111 further characterized by ports provided in the support mounted on the lower housing aligned with the ports in the two arms on the lower housing so that each of the liquids discharges through the ports in the lower support. 13. In an assembly as described in claim 12 further characterized by a mixing chamber connected to the lower support for receiving the liquids discharged through the two ports in the lower housing. 

1. In a mixing valve assembly, a pair of valve housings substantially identical in outside configuration aligned parallel with one another and with one of the two housings inverted with respect to the other housing, means for joining the housings together to form a continuous fluid flow passage from one housing to the other means on the housings for precisely positioning the two parts with respect to each other, mounting lugs connected to the rear portions of the joined housings, and a pair of valve actuator supports connected to the pair of valve housings, said supports beIng secured one to one housing and one to the other.
 2. In an assembly as defined in claim 1, said housings each having an internal passage that extends throughout their length, the rear of each passage being a fluid inlet and the front of each passage being a bushing for a push valve stem, a valve seat provided intermediate the ends of the passages and facing rearwardly, and an internal port in each housing extending perpendicular to the passage, said ports being joined to one another when the housings are assembled.
 3. In an assembly as defined in claim 2, a second internal port provided in one housing and extending downwardly from the passage, said second port being disposed in front of the valve seat in the second housing.
 4. In an assembly as described in claim 1, further characterized by said housings being mounted one above the other, and with the supports being substantially identical with one support being mounted above the upper housing and the other support being mounted below the lower housing.
 5. In an assembly as described in claim 4, further characterized by a push handle pivotally supported on the mounting lugs, a push plate mounted on the supports, a connecting rod joining the handle and plate, and valves disposed in the housings and operatively connected to the plates.
 6. In an assembly as described in claim 4, further characterized by said housings each having an internal passage that extends throughout their length, the rear of each passage being a fluid inlet and the front of each passage being a bushing for a push valve stem, a valve seat provided intermediate the ends of the passages and facing rearwardly, and an internal port in each housing extending perpendicular to the passage, said ports being joined to one another when the housings are assembled.
 7. A valve housing adapted to be used alone for a single liquid or in combination with a similar housing to mix two liquids comprising, a molded plastic body having an elongated passage formed therein, a leg extending perpendicular to the passage on the housing and having a port therethrough which joins the passage, an arm aligned with the leg on the other side of the passage and adapted to be provided with a second port which joins the passage and forms a continuation of the first port, and a connecting device provided on the housing as an integral part thereof and adapted to lock with an identical device on a like housing when one housing is inverted with respect to the other.
 8. A valve housing as described in claim 7 further characterized by a valve seat formed intermediate the ends of the passage, and a portion of reduced diameter provided in the passage to serve as a bushing for a valve stem.
 9. In an assembly as described in claim 6 further characterized by said supports each being generally Y-shaped lying in a horizontal plane with the two arms of the Y extending forwardly, one of said arms having a post to pivotally carry the push plate and the other of the arms having a guide for the connecting rod.
 10. In an assembly as described in claim 6 further characterized by each of said housings having a leg extending perpendicular to its passage and having a port therethrough which joins its passage, an arm aligned with the leg on the other side of each of the housings, said legs in the two housings being aligned with one another when they are assembled, a port provided in the arm of the lower housing joining the port in the lower housing leg, and an additional arm on each housing parallel to the first recited arms, and with a port in the additional arm in the lower housing joining the passage in that housing, whereby liquid introduced into the upper housing may discharge through the legs of the two housings and the port in the first recited arm in the lower housing, and whereby liquid introduced into the passage of the lower housiNg may discharge through the port in the additional arm of that housing.
 11. In an assembly as described in claim 10 further characterized by said supports being mounted on the housings by means of the arms on each housing.
 12. In an assembly as described in claim 11 further characterized by ports provided in the support mounted on the lower housing aligned with the ports in the two arms on the lower housing so that each of the liquids discharges through the ports in the lower support.
 13. In an assembly as described in claim 12 further characterized by a mixing chamber connected to the lower support for receiving the liquids discharged through the two ports in the lower housing. 